Lutheran won the Big Northern and finished sixth in the state in Class 1A, but longtime rival Byron seems poised to pass the Crusaders as the top area small-school girls golf team this year.

Lutheran returns its No. 2 (Kelsey Page) and No. 4 (Sofia Kaplanes) golfers from last year, but graduated four starters, including Bailey Peck, who finished fourth in the state.

“I am rebuilding with four new girls,” said Lutheran coach Joe Lodico, who also returns Molly Jacobsen, who played for the Crusaders but did not crack the top six a year ago. “We are pretty green.”

That doesn’t mean the Crusaders can’t still dream big. Just not big as a team.

“I hope to take Kelsey and Sofia to state,” Lodico said.

Byron will be led by the senior trio of Rachel Hopkins, Caity Druien and Kaitlin Watson. “We have a good mix of experience and youth, and the leadership from our upperclassmen has been remarkable,” second-year coach Carl Setterstrom said. “Our numbers have doubled this year, and this group has been playing all summer.”

Burlington Central and Richmond-Burton are favored, along with Byron, in the Big Northern.

Oregon has the minimum four golfers to form a team with sophomore Abby Martin and freshmen Abi Scheidecker, Ali Scheidecker and Haley Repass. “This is a cool experience to have these young ladies out so we can get this girls golf program finally,” said Jim Spratt, the sixth-year boys coach who will also lead the girls for the first time. “These girls know how to play golf. As they mature as golfers and athletes, I think they are going to be very competitive over not only this year, but years to come.”

Stillman Valley lost two golfers who moved away and a third who decided to play a different sport, but still returns sophomores Kenzie Flynn, Kaitlyn Fitzsimmons and Allie Alexander and add freshmen Becca Brown, Meghan Gear, Natalie Williams and Savannah Giddings. “I am still optimistic because the three girls we have returning all worked really hard this summer to improve and the new additions show a lot of promise,” coach Ryan Dessing said.

Genoa-Kingston returns Andrea Strohmeier, Katie Thurlby, Kayla Craig from a team that won the school’s first regional golf title, but graduated state qualifier Emily Wakeley.

Rockford Christian returns four of its six varsity golfers, two juniors and two sophomores, from a team that finished 4-9 in dual meets and sixth in the Big Northern. “We hope to build on their varsity experience and see improvements the next two seasons,” eighth-year coach Andy Graber said.

Marengo will be led by Monica Millard and CJ Weber. “We have a lot of new golfers,” sixth-year coach Nate Wright said.

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“We are inexperienced, so our team record isn’t our concern. I am looking forward to getting some new players excited about the game of golf and improving over the season.”

Winnebago had two individuals last year, but now has a team, led by seniors Allison Parlapiano and Kayla Wilson.

“With this being the first-ever Winnebago girls golf team, it’s hard to predict where we may finish in the conference,” coach Roger Anderson said. “To get at least one girl to advance to the sectional is a goal.”

NUIC

Eastland has a full six-girl team this season, a rarity in the NUIC, where the smaller schools seldom even have the four girls golfers necessary for a team score.

“I hope it continues,” coach Jason Hill said. “In small schools, you sometimes get players in waves. I hope it’s growing. It should. Golf is a good avenue for girls to get a scholarship and it’s a good sport for them to learn.”

A year ago, Eastland had five players and finished second in the regional and sixth at sectionals.

The Cougars return four of their five players, including Karissa Friedag, who was a regional champion as a freshman, but graduated state qualifier Alex Moutrey. Aslo back are: Kori Freidag (Sr), Izy Todd (Sr) and Samantha Feltenz (Sr) and add Grace Norton (Fresh) and Gabby (Jr). Milledgeville) jr.

Pearl City will also field a team with five golfers and they should continue to have a team since they are four sophomores (Abby Endress, Alyssa Johnson, Kalli Kaney and Brooke Stephan) and one freshman (Macayla Pilson).

“This is the first time we have had a girls team,” coach Scott Woodley said, “so I am really looking at this season for them as a new opportunity.”

Lena-Winslow will be led by Lexi Graf and Callie Raders.

Dakota has two first-time high school golfers in sophomores Carson Kaiser and Alivia Lohmeier.